Receipts accounting device for vending machines



1954 J. G. WESTERHAUS ETAL 3,

RECEIPTS ACCOUNTING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llOvA.C.Line- HG l 24vD.CLine 7 i 9 I I0 1 Jn YEMToRs n JOSEPH e. WESTERHAUS EDWARD J. RUEHL Attorneys 1964 J. G. WESTERHAUS ETAL 3, 5

RECEIPTS ACCOUNTING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTORS JOSEPH G.WESTERHAU$ EDWARD J. RUEHL A ttornavs.

United States Patent 3,151,721 RECEIPTS AIXZGUNTETG DEVIQE FSR VENDENG ll/ZAJENES Joseph G. Westerhans, (Zheviot, and Edward 3. Ruehl, Green Townshi Hamilton County, fihio, assignors to Pioneer V ending Inc, iCheviot, @hio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 188,833 14) Ciahns. (Cl. 194-15) This invention relates to coin or token receipts accounting devices for vending machines and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for counting the value of coins received by a vending machine or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character for incorporation in a vending machine in which coins deposited to actuate the machine are received and held in a receptacle disposed within the locked case of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an accurate account of the receipts of such a machine which can not be accurately determined from the dispensing of a vendable commodity by such machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character including a counter associated with coin sensing devices respectively coupled to said counter directly and through impulse multiplying devices so as to accurately register on a counter, the cumulative total of coin value units received by said machine.

Another object and feature of this invention is to provide a device of the above character in which the counter is actuated directly or through respective relays controlled by a motor driven cam so as to produce counter actuating impulses in a number corresponding to the number of unit coin values represented by each actuating coin.

The above and other features and objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a presently preferred embodiment of the instant invention cooperatively associated with portions of a vending machine with the motor driven switch actuating cam in open or ready position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, showing switches and the associated motor driven switch actuating cam, the cam being in the first unit of coin value impulse producing position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary View similar to H6. 2, but in which the cam is in the two unit value coin counter relay drop-otf position;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2, but in which the cam is in the five unit value coin counter relay dropotf switch actuating position;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2, but in which the cam is in the ten unit value coin counter relay dropoff switch actuating position; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in section showing a pair of cam operated switch contacts in cooperative relation to the motor driven cam.

In the specification and the drawings like reference characters indicate like parts.

In machine vending of commodities, various service personnel of the owner of such machine have access thereto in maintaining or servicing the mechanism thereof, in placing additional merchandise inventory therein to replace that which has been sold and in collecting receipts from coin receivers provided in such machines. Heretofore it has been common practice in the industry 3,151,?21 Patented Get. 6, 1964 to provide coin testing devices which reject slugs or fraudulent coin substitutes, to prevent vending of commodities for other than genuine coins, but all coins accepted by such devices were often received and stored in a hopper accessible to any one of the various servicing personnel having access to the interior of the locked case of such vending machine.

Heretofore receipts of some such vending devices have been approximately accounted for; for example, in music dispensing devices such as those record playing devices of en referred to as juke boxes, a counter has been incorporated in the machine to indicate the total number of plays, each of which is a single rendition of a musical composition or the like by the machine. However, when idle for a given period of time, many such record playing devices play a record automatically, without charge, to stimulate interest and attract the attention of prospective customers. The cumulative number of plays registered in such machine does not reflect the true coin receipts. In food vending machines such as soft drink or coffee vending devices which combine concentrates with water or the like and dispense same in receptacles such as paper cups, the number of cups or receptacles used by a service man on his route often provides a simple approximate accounting check on receipts from such vending devices serviced by him, allowance being made for cups damaged or rendered unusale by soiling, and for the fact that he may not at all times add to the supply of cups in a machine, a number of cups exactly equal to the number of drinks dispensed, and for the further fact that such cups are usually of the nesting variety which tend to stick together at times resulting in a single drink being dispensed in a cup nested within a second cup. The receptacles, usually paper cups, are also standard items of commerce, merchandise which may be purchased directly by the route service man, who, if dishonest, can use both the cups of his employer and duplicate cups which he has himself purchased, in servicing his empioyers machines and pilfer receipts corresponding to the cups not supplied by his employer. Such pilferage from the substantial number of such machines which may be serviced by one individual can be substantial.

Vending machines frequently have one or more types of electric current available at one or more voltages. The illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings is intended for use in a vending machine in which volt alternating current and 24 volt direct current are available. These sources of electrical current are respectively designated in FIG. 1 by the notation 110 v. A.C. LINE and 24 V. DC. LINE.

In the lower left hand portion of FIG. 1, we have schematically shown, the coin receiving and identifying section of a vending machine adapted to receive nickels 15, which successively move along path 16 through positions na, nb, and nc; dimes 17, which successively move along path 18 through positions do, db, and dc; quarters 19, which successively move along path 2!) through positions qa, qb, and qc; and half dollars 21, which successively move along path 22 through positions ha, hb, and he. Paths l5, i3, 20 and 22 are conventional grooves, slots or chutes in association with which are respectively mounted switches 23, 24, 2:7 and 26. A nickel l5 moving along path 16 from position no, cooperatively engages arm 23a of switch 23 and moves arm 23a so that when nickel 15 reaches position rib, switch 23 momentarily closes. Switch 23 reopens before the nickel 15 reaches position nc. Similarly, dime l7, moving from position 03a to position db, engages arm 24a of switch 24 and momentarily closes switch 24 which then reopens before dime 17 reaches position dc. A quarter 19 will similarly cooperate with arm 25a to momentarily close switch 25 in moving from position qa through position qb to position qc, while half-dollar 21 will cooperate with arm 26:: to momentarily close switch 26 in moving from position ha through position Izb into position 110.

Current is supplied from the source of electrical energy designated 24 v. D.C. LINE through conductors 27 and 23 to the several respective leads 29, 3t), 31, and 32 to coin actuated switches 23, 24, 25, and 26.

In normal operation of the vending machine, closing of switch 23 supplies current through conductor 33 to other portions of the machine, not shown, which complete the conventional machine circuit through conductor 37 to the 24 v. D.C. LINE. Similarly closing of switch 24 closes a respective circuit and current flows through conductor 34, conventional portions of the machine not shown and conductor 37 to the 24 v. D.C. LINE. Closing of switch 25 similarly permits current to how through conductor 35 and closing of switch 26 permits current to flow through conductor 36, through respective conventional portions of the machine, not shown, and thence in similar fashion through conductor 37 to the 24 v. D.C. LINE.

The above described features are representative of features found in various vending machines and are illustratively representative of vending machines generally. We have also omitted showing of any of the several known means interlocking switches 23, 24, 25, and 26 or means blocking associated coin paths so as to regulate the timespacing of successive coins admitted to assure proper functioning of the vending machine mechanism.

To record the units of coin value passing through such a machine, we provide a unit value counting device, which is preferably encased in a sealed housing, having suitable exteriorly accessible binding terminals or pigtail conductors which may be connected, as hereinafter described, to the existing electrical circuit or circuits of the vending machine.

A sealed housing 14 for the counting device is represented in FIG. 1 by a double dot dash line which encircles the representations of the housed contents.

Within housing 14 are disposed three relays, respectively referred to generally as 25, and 50, a counter 37, cam 3% driven by motor 39, and cam switches having paired flexible contact members 41-42, 43-44, 45-46, 47-43, and 49-549 in cooperative relation to actuating cam 38. The cam switches are of the normally closed type, except switch 49-50 which is of the normally open type.

Relay 10 has six flexible resilient paired contacts 642-61, 62-63, and 64-65 supported in insulated relation to each other by mounting block 66 which is in turn mounted on member 67. Contacts 6-1, 63, and 65 are coupled by link member 68, of electrically non-conductive material, to armature lever d9 fulcrumed on member 67 and biased by tension spring 70 to pivot to the position in which it is shown in FIG. 1. Electro-magnetic coil 71 has a core 72 so positioned adjacent armature lever 69 as to swingingly draw lever 69 downwardly into indexed contacting relation thereto, to simultaneously through link 68, close the paired contacts of the relay during energizing of coil 71 as hereinafter described.

Relay 25 has six flexible resilient pairs of contacts 30-31, 82-83, and 84-85 supported in insulated relation to each other by mounting block 86, which is in turn mounted on member 87. Contacts 81, 83, and 85 are coupled by link 83, of electrically non-conductive material, to armature lever 89 fulcrumed on member 87 and biased by tension spring 96 to pivot to the position in which it is shown in FIG. 1. Electro-magnetic coil 91 has a core 52 so positioned adjacent armature lever 89 as to swingingly draw lever 89 downwardly into indexed contacting relation thereto to simultaneously, through link 88, close the paired contacts of the relay during energizing of coil 91, as hereinafter described.

Relay 50 has six flexible resilient paired contacts Nil-1&1, 12-193, and lite-165 supported in insulated relation to each other by mounting block 1136 which is in turn mounted on member 197. Contacts 1131, 163, and 1&5 are coupled by link 13%, of electrically non-conductive material, to armature lever 169 fulcrumed on member 167 and biased by tension spring 119 to pivot to the position in which it is shown in FIG. 1. Electro-magnetic coil 111 has a core 112 so positioned adjacent armature lever 16? as to swingingly draw lever 109 downwardly into indexed contacting relation thereto to simultaneously, through link 103, close the paired contacts of the relay during energizing of coil 111, as hereinafter described.

Counter 37 is one actuatable by electrical impulses delivered to it in series, and which registers the cumulative total number of impulses at 371 as a number which may consist of a predetermined number of digits.

As shown in PEG. 6, cam 38 has a hub 331. 1 mounted on shaft 3% of motor 39 by securing means 4%, which may be a set screw or the like. Cam 33 has a plurality of switch-actuating lobes of any suitable shape, but those shown are of hemispheric shape. As shown in fragmentary view. EEG. 6, the normally closed pair of contacts 47-43, comprising the cam-actuated cam-cycle ending switch, are supported in cooperating relation to cam 38 by insulating member 51 so as to be opened only when contact 47 is supported in non-contacting relation to con tact 48 by cam lobe ce. Similarly, the other pairs of camactuable switch-forming contacts 41-42 (10 relay dropolf switch), 43-44 (25 relay drop-off switch), 45-46 (50 relay drop-off switch), and 49-50 (counting impulse switch), are respectively supported by insulating members, not shown in the drawings, corresponding to member 51. Switch forming normally closed contacts 41-42, 43-44 and 45-46 are opened only when a similar respective cam lobe moves the longer contact of the respective pair, that is, 41, 43, or 45, out of contact with the respective shorter contact 42, 44, or 46, as the case may be. The normally open switch forming contacts 49-50 are closed by a cam lobe, such as 0-1, pressing contact 51 against 49.

Motor 35 may be one designed to operate on 110 volt alternating current supplied from a source designated schematically in FIG. 1. as 110 V. AC. LlNE. A first terminal of motor 39 is connected to the 110 V. AC. LINE by conductor 54.

Conductor 52 consists of successive portions designated by suffixes a through d, inclusive, and connects the 110 V. AC. LINE to contacts 64, 47, 34, and 104, as follows: 52:: connects the 110 V. AC. LINE to 10 relay contact 64, which is connected by 522; to cam switch contact 47 which is connected by 520 to 25 relay contact 84, which is connected by 52a to 58 relay contact 104.

Conductor 53 consists of successive portions designated by sufiixes e, f, g, and h, inclusive, and connects the second terminal of motor 39 to contacts 65, 48, 35 and 105, as follows: 53a connects the second terminal of motor 39 to 10 relay contact 65, which is connected by 53 to earn switch contact 48, which is connected by 53g to 25 relay contact 85, which is connected by 53h to 50 relay contact 105.

Motor 39 is connected in circuit with the 110 V. AC. LINE and four switches having paired contacts 64-65, 47-48, 84-85, and 104-105 connected in parallel. Motor 39 thus operates so long as any one of these four switches is closed and remains inoperative while all four are simultaneously open.

Conductor 55, connected to 24 v. D.C. LINE by conductor 27, consists of successive portions designated by suflixes a through 1, inclusive, and connects conductor 27 to contacts 6t), 43, 41, 46, 8t), 1% as follows: 55a connects conductor 27 to 16 relay contact as, which is connected by 5512 to cam actuatable switch contact 43, which is connected by 550 to cam actuable switch contact 41 and by 55d to cam actuatable switch contact 46, which latter contact is connected by 55:? to 25 relay contact 80, which is connected by 55] to 50 relay contact Conductor 56 consists of successive portions designated by sufiixes a through c, inclusive, and connects switch contacts 61, 50, 81 and 1% as follows: 56a connects relay contact 61 to cam actuatable switch contact 5%, which is connected by 56b to relay contact 81, which is connected by 56c to 50 relay contact 101.

Conductor 55 consists of {LIEE portions designated by SUffiXtES a through c, inclusive, and connects nickel switch 23 at conductor 33 to counter 37 and cam actuatable switch contact 49, as follows: 57a is connected to nickel switch 23 and portions 571) and 57c, which are respectively connected to counter 37 and cam actuated switch contact 49.

Conductor 58 consists of portions designated by sufiixes a through d, inclusive, and connects the counter 37, and electromagnetic coils 71, 91, and 111 to the 24 v. DC. LlNE, as follows: 58:! connects counter 37 to the 24 v. DC. LINE, 582*; branches oil of 58a which it connects to 10 relay electro-rnagnetic coil 71 which is connected by 530 to 25 relay electro-magnetic coil 91 and has a branch 53d which is connected to 50 relay electro-magnetic coil 111.

Conductor 73- connects dime switch 24 at conductor 34 to one tap of the 10 relay electro-magnetic coil 71 to which tap, conductor 74 connects 10 r lay contact 252. Conductor 75 connects 10 relay contact as to earn actuatable switch contact 42.

Conductor 93 connects quarter switch 25, at conductor 35, to one tap of the 25 relay electro-magnetic coil 91 to which tap conductor 54 connects 25 relay contact 82. Conductor 95 connects 25 relay contact 83 to cam actuatable switch contact 44.

Conductor 11.3 connects half-dollar switch 26, at conductor 36, to one tap of the 50 relay electromagnetic coil 11 to which tap conductor 114 connects 50 relay contact 102. Conductor 115 connects 50 relay contact to cam actuatable switch contact 45.

Cam 38 is rotated in clockwise direction, as indicated by arrows A in the several views of the drawings, by motor 39 so that the respective cam lobes actuate the cam switches in a predetermined sequence during each single rotation cycle of the cam.

In FIG. 1 the cam 38 is sh wn in start-stop position relative to the cam actuatable switches. In this position the cam cycle ending switch contacts 47, are open, because cam lobe ce holds contact 47 away from shorter contact 43. The cycle of cam 33 is commenced by energizing of the 10, 25, or 50 relay to close one pair of cam cycle starting switch contacts 64-55 or 84-85 or 184-105, as the case may be, initiating the llow of electric current to motor Motor 39 then rotates cam 3%, disengaging lobe ce from contact 47 so that cam cycle ending switch contacts 47-48 close. Since the cam cycle ending switch is connected in the motor circuit in parallel with the cam cycle starting switches incorporated in the relays, the latter may be opened while the cam cycle ending switch is closed and the motor will continue to operate until cam lobe ce again opens the cam cycle ending switch contacts 47-48 to stop motor 39 with cam 38 in the position shown in FIG. 1.

Upon closing of switch 24 by a dime 17 passing into the machine, coil 71 is energized by current passing from the 24 v. 13.0. LINE through conductors 27, 28, 30, switch 24, conductor 73, coil 71, and then through conductor 58 to the 24 v. DC. LINE. Passage of current through this circuit results in actuator lever 69 being magnetically drawn against core 72, shifting 10 relay contact link 63 to close the three pairs of contacts, that is, counter circuit priming switch contacts 60-61, 10 relay hold switch contacts 52-63 and 10 relay motor starting switch contacts4-55. Switch 24 need only be closed momen- 6 tarily as upon closing of 10 relay holding switch contact 62-63, a circuit is closed which extends from 24 V. DC. LINE through conductor 27, 55a, 55b, 550, the normally closed 10 relay drop-oil switch contacts 42, 41, conductor 75, contacts 6342 and conductor 74 through coil 71 and conductor 53 to 24 V. DC. LINE. Upon energizing or" the 10 relay, contacts 64, 65 close, motor 39 commences operating and rotates cam 33 in the direction of arrow A from the position shown in FIG. 1 through that shown in FIG. 2 into that shown in FIG. 3. When cam 38 is in the position shown in FIG. 3, cam lobe 2n supports contact 41 in non-contacting relation to contact 42 opening the circuit of coil 71, coin switch 24 being open, whereupon tension spring 7 0 moves 10 relay contact link 68 to the position of FIG. 1, in which the 10 relay hold switch contacts 62-63 are also open. Thereafter, continuing cam movement disengages lobe Zn from contact 41 and the 10 relay drop-off switch returns to its normally closed condition, but the circuit remains open because contacts 62-53 as well as switch 24 are open.

When cam 38 is in the position of FIG. 1, cam-actuated counter switch contacts 49-50 are in open relation as are the priming switch contacts of the respective relays, each or which is connected in series with the cam-actuated counter switch, the counter 37 and the 24 V. DC. LINE in series circuit. Upon energizing of the 10 relay, the 10 relay counter circuit priming switch contacts 66-61 close to complete the counter circuit except for the fact that the normally open cam-actuated counter switch contacts 49-50 are open. As cam 33 rotates from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 3, cam lobes 0-1 and c-Z successively close the cam-actuated counter switch and two successive counter operating electrical impulses pass through the circuit and are registered by the counter. Thereafter, through momentary opening of the 10 relay drop-oil switch contacts 41-42, the 10 relay is de-energized resulting in opening of the 10 counter circuit priming switch contacts 60-61. Thereafter, successive closings of switch contacts 49-59 by cam lobes 0-3 through 0-10 have no etlect upon the counter because the circuit thereof remains open as cam 38 continues to rotate until it has returned to the position of FIG. 1.

Similarly, passage of a quarter 19 into the vending machine results in momentary closing of switch 25 to energize coil 91 and actuate the 25 relay closing the three pairs of contacts thereof, 25 counter circuit priming switch contacts -81, 25 relay hold switch contacts 82-83 and 25 relay cam cycle starting switch contacts 84-85. As cam 38 rotates from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 4, the contacts 49-50 of cam actuated counter switch are successively closed by cam lobes 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, and 0-5, resulting in the passage of five successive counter actuating impulses through the circuit and their registration by the counter, before cam lobe 51! moves 25 cam operated relay drop-01f switch contact 43 out of contact with contact 44. Switch 25 being open, the opening of the 25 relay drop-off switch by cam lobe 51 de-energizes coil 91 and the contacts of the 25 relay are opened as spring acting through lever 8? moves 25 relay contact link 88 to the position of FIG. 1. Rotation of cam 38 from the position of FIG. 4 to the position of FIG. 1 has no further effect upon counter 37 as the circuit thereof is no longer primed and remains open.

Similarly, deposit of a half-dollar 21 into the vending machine results in momentary closing of switch 26 to energize coil 111 long enough to effect closing of the three pairs of contacts of the 50 relay. Cam 38 rotates from the position of FIG. 1 through the positions of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, into the position of FIG. 5. During such movement the ten cam lobes, 0-1 through c-lli, close the cam-actuated counter switch contacts 49-50 ten times and ten counter actuating impulses traverse the counter circuit and are registered by the counter before cam lobe 16!: moves contact 45 of the 59 relay drop-01f switch out of contact with contact 46 thereof, to de-energize coil 111 so that spring 11% acting through lever 16? shifts link 108 to the position of FIG. 1, opening the 50 relay contacts. Opening of the 50 relay contacts, de-primes the counter circuit and places the motor circuit in condition for opening by action of cam lobe ce, that is, opening of the cam cycle ending switch contacts 474% by lobe ce.

Upon passage of a nickel 15 into the machine, coin switch 23 is closed and a single counter actuating impulse passes through the counter circuit and is registered by the counter.

Having thus described what presently appears to be a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, that various modifications and changes may be made in the illustrative embodiment without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Therefore, what is claimed as new, and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. For a vending machine having a plurality of switches, one actuatable by coins of unit value and each of the others actuatable by coins of a single predetermined respective plural unit value to control current in respective electrical circuits of the machine, a coin receipts accounting device comprising in combination a current impulse counter having an accumulative register, said switch actuatable by coins of unit value being connected to said counter and supplying a current impulse thereto each time a coin actuates said switch, a cycle-wise producer of current impulses operative for one cycle in response to each actuation of one of the other of said switches by a plural unit value coin received by the machine to deliver current impulses to said counter and a plurality of relays, each actuatable by a respective one of said other switches to preclude delivery from said producer to said counter of more than a predetermined number of current impulses related in number to the number of units of value of each coin received whereby the difference between successive register readings corresponds to the value of coin received by the machine during the intervening period.

2. For a vending machine having a plurality of switches, each actuataole by coins of a single predetermined respective value to control current in respective electrical circuits of the machine, a coin receipts accounting device comprising in combination a current impulse counter having an accumulative register, a cycle-wise producer of current impulses operative for one cycle in response to each actuation of one of said switches by a coin received by the machine to deliver current impulses to said counter, and a plurality of relays, each actuatable by a respective one of said switches to preclude delivery from said producer to said counter of more than a predetermined number of current impulses related in number to the number of units of value of each coin received whereby the difference between successive register readings corresponds to the value of coin received by the machine during the intervening period.

3. A vending machine comprising in combination a commodity dispenser, means for actuating said dispenser to dispense said commodity upon deposit of a predetermined value in coin and also upon passage of a predetermined period of time during which a predetermined value of coin is not deposited therein, a registering accumulating counter, a cycle-wise producer of current impulses perative for one cycle in response to each deposit of a coin in said machine to deliver current impulses to said counter, and a plurality of coin selected means, each limiting the number of current impulses delivered by said producer to a number corresponding to the units of value of the selecting coin whereby the value of coin received during the period between two readings of the accumulating counter register will be indicated by the difference between said two readings.

4. A vending machine comprising in combination a lockable housing, means therein for dispensing a vendable commodity therefrom, means for actuating said dispensing means to dispense said commodity upon deposit of a predetermined value in coin and also upon passage of a predetermined period of time during which said commodity is not dispensed, a registering accumulating counter and a cycle-wise producer of current impulses operative for one cycle in response to each deposit of a coin in said machine to deliver current impulses to said counter, and a plurality of coin selected means, each limiting the number of current impulses delivered by said producer to a number corresponding to the units of value of the selecting coin whereby the value of coin received during the period between two readings of the accumulating counter register will be indicated by the difference between said two readings.

5. A vending machine comprising in combination a lockable housing, means therein for dispensing a vendable commodity therefrom, means for actuating said dispenser to dispense said commodity upon deposit of a predetermined value in coin and also upon passage of a predetermined period of time during which said commodity is not dispensed, a lockable sub-housing, a registering accumulating counter, a cycle-wise producer of current impulses operative for one cycle in response to each deposit of a coin in said machine to deliver current impulses to said counter, and a plurality of coin selected means housed in said lockable sub-housing, each coin selected means limiting the number of current impulses delivered by said producer to a number corresponding to the units of value of the selecting coin whereby the value of coin received during the period between two readings of the accumulating counter register will be indicated by the diiierence between said two readings.

6. In a coin receipts accounting device for a coin controlled electrically operated vending machine a circuit comprising in combination an electrical impulse counter, a source of electrical current, and an accounting unit value coin actuatable impulse passing switch, a coin relay triggered cycling accounting unit impulse passing switch, a plurality of drop-01f relay switches in series with said repeating impulse passing switch and in parallel with said coin actuatable impulse passing switch, each drop-0E relay being actuatable to prime the counter circuit upon receipt of a coin of respective denomination, a plurality of relay operating switches, and means for actuating said relay operating switches to drop oif said relays to deprime the counter circuit after the repeating switch has passed impulses equal in number to the unit coin value of the denomination of the coin received.

7. In a coin receipts accounting device for a coin controlled electrically operated vending machine a circuit comprising in combination an electrical impulse registering counter, a source of electrical current, and an accounting unit value coin actuatable impulse passing switch, a coin actuable relay triggered cycling accounting unit impulse passing switch in parallel with said coin actuatable impulse passing switch, a plurality of drop-off relay switches in parallel with each other and in series with said repeating impulse passing switch, each drop-ofi relay being actuatable to prime the counter circuit upon receipt of a coin of respective denomination, a plurality of relay operating switches, and means operating in correlation with the repeating impulse passing switch actuating said relay operating switches to drop-01f relays to deprime the counter circuit after the repeating impulse passing switch has passed impulses corresponding to the number of units of coin value of the denomination of the coin received.

8. In a coin receipts accounting device for a coin-controlled electrically operated vending machine, a circuit comprising in combination an electrical impulse counter, a source of electrical current, an impulse passing switch,

a repeating impulse passing switch, a plurality of coin actuatable relays connected in series with a repeating impulse passing switch which with the relays is in parallel relation to the impulse passing switch, each coin actuatable relay being closed by receipt of a coin of particular respective value to prime the impulse counting circuit until impulses corresponding in number to the units of coin value, have passed through that circuit by operation of said repeating impulse passing switch and then deprime the circuit While it is reset for actuation by a succeeding coin.

9. In a coin receipts accounting evice for a coin-controlled electrically operated vending machine a circuit comprising in combination an electrical impulse registering counter, a source of electrical current, a repeating impulse passing switch, a plurality of coin actuatable relays connected in series with the repeating impulse passing switch, each coin actuatable relay being actuated by receipt of a coin of particular respective value to prime the impulse counting circuit until impulses corresponding to the value of the coin received have passed through that circuit and then deprime the circuit while it is reset for actuation by a succeeding coin.

10. For a vending machine having a plurality of switches, each actuatable by coins of atsingle predetermined respective value to control current in respective electrical circuits of the machine, a coin receipts accounting device comprising in combination a counter having an accumulating register, electrically operable counter driving means, settable means limiting counter operation, operation of said driving means being started by receipt of a coin by said machine and such receipt also setting said counter operation limiting means to limit register operation to correspond to the value of the received coin whereby the difierence between successive register readings corresponds to the value of coin received by the machine during the intervening period.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,516 Potter Sept. 26, 1950 2,535,461 Skillman Dec. 26, 1950 2,740,581 Komusin Apr. 3, 1956 

1. FOR A VENDING MACHING HAVING A PLURALITY OF SWITCHES, ONE ACTUATABLE BY COINS OF UNIT VALUE AND EACH OF THE OTHERS ACTUATABLE BY COINS OF A SINGLE PREDETERMINED RESPECTIVE PLURAL UNIT VALUE TO CONTROL CURRENT IN RESPECTIVE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS OF THE MACHINE, A COIN RECEIPTS ACCOUNTING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CURRENT IMPULSE COUNTER HAVING AN ACCUMULATIVE REGISTER, SAID SWITCH ACTUATABLE BY COINS OF UNIT VALUE BEING CONNECTED TO SAID COUNTER AND SUPPLYING A CURRENT IMPULSE THERETO EACH TIME A COIN ACTUATES SAID SWITCH, A CYCLE-WISE PRODUCER OF CURRENT IMPULSES OPERATIVE FOR ONE CYCLE IN RESPONSE TO EACH ACTUATION OF ONE OF THE OTHER OF SAID SWITCHES BY A PLURAL UNIT VALUE COIN RECEIVED BY THE MACHINE TO DELIVER CURRENT IMPULSES TO SAID COUNTER AND A PLURALITY OF RELAYS, EACH ACTUATABLE BY A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID OTHER SWITCHES TO PRECLUDE DELIVERY FROM SAID PRODUCER TO SAID COUNTER OF MORE THAN A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF CURRENT IMPULSES RELATED IN NUMBER TO THE NUMBER OF UNITS OF VALUE OF EACH COIN RECEIVED WHEREBY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE REGISTER READINGS CORRESPONDS TO THE VALUE OF COIN RECEIVED BY THE MACHINE DURING THE INTERVENING PERIOD. 